According to a report by South China Morning Post, the suspects are believed to have placed several mining devices above ceiling panels at two different facilities during renovation work.

The case first revealed when one of the care homes began experiencing frequent internet disruptions. While investigating the issue, the home’s IT staff discovered unfamiliar hardware hidden above an office ceiling. A second center later found similar equipment.

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Both sets of devices appeared to be mining cryptocurrencies using power from the buildings.

The suspects were arrested on September 5 in Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po. The two individuals acted independently and are not affiliated with any group. The charges filed relate to the unauthorized use of electricity, a criminal offense under local law.

Inspector Ng Tsz-wing from the Sham Shui Po technology crime unit explained that the mining equipment had been installed during refurbishment. The unauthorized power usage added about HK$9,000 (roughly US$1,153) to the monthly bills.

Authorities are advising building operators and care institutions to monitor energy consumption and network activity. Ng recommended checking for unexplained changes in bills or digital services. He also urged organizations to supervise contractors and carry out physical inspections in less visible areas.

According to Hong Kong’s Theft Ordinance, using electricity without approval is treated as theft and can lead to up to five years in prison.

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The group promoted Paynet Coin (PAYN) through two main websites, FMCPAY.com and AFF2024.com. People were told they could earn monthly profits of 5% to 9%, as well as extra payments for bringing in new members.

According to investigators, Nguyễn Văn Hà from Gia Lai Province was the main organizer. Although he had no formal background in technology, he is said to have hired programmers to create the PAYN blockchain, a security system, and a rewards program.

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These features were designed to make the project appear real. The scheme also claimed that PAYN could be used for booking travel and that its exchange was registered in the United States.

To gain trust, the group held large presentations at expensive venues. Police noted that Hà took around $200 million from the scheme. Even after arrests began, money continued to come in from other countries, including India and the Philippines.

The Vietnamese news outlet VnExpress reported that police have frozen or seized about $38 million in cash, foreign currency, and real estate. So far, 20 people have been taken into custody.

Hà, along with his deputy Phan Việt Lập and other members of the group, is facing charges of breaking multi-level marketing laws and using online systems to take money from others.

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According to court documents, the FBI explained that Tushal Rathod carried out this scheme between November 2021 and June 2024.

The case centers on a type of scam known as business email compromise. This involves tricking companies into sending payments to the wrong accounts by stealing email login information and watching for upcoming transactions.

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Rathod is reported to have used this method while operating several business bank accounts to receive and move the stolen money.

Seven bank accounts across six different banks were used. Records indicated that around $1.2 million was converted into Bitcoin and sent to unknown addresses.

At least three of the banks warned Rathod that the deposits looked suspicious. In response, he provided an invoice to explain the money, but it turned out to be fake. One bank showed this invoice to a victim, who confirmed it was not real.

The FBI also said Rathod allegedly involved his girlfriend and family members by transferring funds through their accounts. Over $1 million passed through their hands, though Citibank was able to recover $800,000 of that amount.

Rathod faces several charges, including wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted, he could spend up to 20 years in prison.

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Trung Nguyen, who lived in Danvers, also has to give up $1.5 million and will be under supervision for three years after he leaves prison. The sentence was announced on May 22 by the US Attorney’s Office in Boston.

Nguyen ran a business under the name “National Vending” between 2017 and 2020. Although it appeared to be a vending machine company, it was actually a cash-to-Bitcoin service that was not registered with federal authorities, as required by law.

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To avoid being caught, Nguyen used methods he learned in an online course. He made up supplier names, kept the word “Bitcoin” out of his communications, and used the vending machine label to avoid suspicion.

People who used his service included scam victims and a drug dealer who sent him $250,000 in 2018 over ten separate transactions. The US Department of Justice said Nguyen moved more than $1 million into Bitcoin but never filed the required paperwork for large or suspicious transactions.

Nguyen usually met clients in person and accepted large amounts of cash. In 2023, he was charged after investigators met him while posing as customers. He accepted cash and sent Bitcoin in return, taking a fee of just over 5%.

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He was indicted and arrested on May 21 after the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) completed their investigation.

According to court documents, Jordan-Jones ran a scheme between January 2021 and November 2022. During that time, he claimed his company was working on new blockchain-based payment tools and sales systems.

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He also told investors that Amalgam had formed partnerships, including with sports groups, and that the company would soon be listed on crypto exchanges. However, prosecutors say these claims were false.

Officials said Amalgam had no working products, almost no customers, and had not formed any real partnerships. Still, investors were led to believe the business was growing. Jordan-Jones allegedly used these lies to convince people to hand over money, which he then spent on personal expenses instead of business development.

The charges also say he created fake financial records to support his claims. In one example, he submitted a bank statement showing over $18 million in Amalgam’s account to apply for a company credit card.

Jordan-Jones faces several charges, including wire fraud, securities fraud, making false statements to a bank, and identity theft. The fraud charges each carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison. The charge for lying to a bank could lead to 30 years. The identity theft charge has a mandatory two-year sentence if convicted.

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